Outdoor recreational and picnicking structure



' AugfZO, 1968 H. F. Hsoescocx OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL AND PICNICKING STRUCTURE Filed July 8, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR HENRY F. HEDGECOCK ATTOR N 5Y5.

8- 0, 1968 H. F. HEDGECOCK 3,

OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL AND PICNICKING STRUCTURE Filed July 8, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

INVENTOR HENRY F HEDGECOCK ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,397,881 OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL AND PICNICKING STRUCTURE Henry F. Hedgecock, Rte. 2, Box 77, Trinity, N.C. 27370 Filed July 8, 1965, Ser. No. 470,489 6 Claims. (Cl. 272-33) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A recreational and picnicking structure including a main support column having at its top, a canopy which may be moved about or along the column for adjustment purposes. Sheltered by the canopy are a seat assembly, a table incorporating a cooking grill, and a lazy susan all of which are mounted on the column below the canopy for rotatable movement as well as axial movement relative to the column. A plurality of play swings aresuspended from outer portions of the canopy while clotheslines are strung peripherally on the canopy.

This invention relates to picnicking and recreational apparatus particularly suitable for use in the yard of a private home although not limited thereto.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel multi-purpose outdoor structure including a table, seats, swings and clotheslines, all of which are covered by a canopy.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an outdoor structure having a rotatable table and an associated lazy susan and whose seats may also be revolved-as a unit for use in the manner of a carousel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such an outdoor structure whose component parts may be adjusted into different elevations as desired.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved plural seat assembly for use in the aforegoing outdoor structure or the like.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an outdoor recreational and picknicking structure which will attain the above objects and yet may be economically manufactured to occupy a minimum of space and be durable over long periods of rugged use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view with certain portions broken away and others removed of an outdoor recreational and picnicking structure embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmental, cross-sectional view gon of a seat assembly included in the structure of FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmental, cross-sectional view taken generally along lines 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the structure of FIG. 1 with certain portions broken away or removed for clarity;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmental plan view showing certain details of construction at the corners of a canopy included in the structure of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmental, elevational view taken generally along lines 6-6 of FIG. 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 shows an outdoor recreational and picnicking structure representing one embodiment of the present invention including a vertical support column shown as a metallic tube 2 anchored in the ground 4 in a concrete base or footing 6. Although not shown, column 2 may be formed in two parts which could include a lower stub portion permanently anchored in the footing and a removable upper portion. Included in the shown embodiment are a plural seat assembly generally designated 10, table 12, lazy susan 14, swings 16, clotheslines 18, all of which are covered by a canopy 20.

Seat assembly 10 in the preferred embodiment includes a plurality of horizontally disposed seats 22 (shown as equally spaced and six in number) respectively secured to a central hub 24 by elongated primary support bars 26 projecting radially in the same plane from hub 24 at equally spaced intervals about its circumference. Radial support members 26 may be formed from tubing and fastened to hub 24 in any suitable manner such as shown in FIG. 3 by a plurality of right angle brackets 28 each of which has a curved leg 30 secured such as by welding to hub 24 and a flat leg 32 fastened to the underside of one of the support bars 26 by nuts and bolts 34.

For reinforcement, a plurality of braces 36, which may be formed from tubing, are connected to support bars 26 and a second hub 40 disposed in co-axially spaced relationship to hub 24 so that braces 36 are inclined. Braces 36 may be secured to lower hub 40 in any suitable manner such as by the brackets 42 which are similar to those employed in securing primary support bars 26 except that brackets 42 have an inclined leg 44 conforming to the incline of braces 36. Further reinforcement of the seat assembly is provided by a plurality of horizontal braces 46 secured such as by bolts 48 to adjacent support bars 26 as shown in FIG. 2.

Securement of seats 22 to primary support bars 26 as Well as Securement of braces 36 to primary support bars 26 is accomplished by right angle brackets 50. One leg 52 of each bracket 50 is fastened such as by bolts or screws to the underside of one of the seats 22 while the other leg 54 is fastened to both a support bar 26 and an associated brace 36.

Seat assembly 10 is mounted for slidable movement along column 2 and rotational movement by reception of column 2 through the two hubs 24 and 40 of the seat assembly. Support of the seat assembly on column 2 is provided by a pair of cylindrical collars 56 and 58 slidably received on column 2 to respectively engage below hubs 24 and 40 of the seat assembly as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Collars 56 and 58 are slidable along column 2 to any desired position in which they are fixed by set screws 60 received radially through collars 56 and 58 into engagement with column 2 as shown in FIG. 3. Similarly, set screws 62 (one shown in FIG. 3) are provided in hubs 24 and 40 so that once the seat assembly is moved into the desired elevation on collars 56 and 58, set screws 62 may be engaged against column 2 to fasten the seat assembly in position. If however, it is desired to use the seat assembly as a carousel, set screws 62 are released from column 2 (while maintaining screws 60 engaged) to permit rotation of the seat assembly.

Table 12 includes a top planar member 66 formed of any desired shape and secured to a plurality of underlying radiating frame members 68 (only one shown in FIG. 1) which are secured at their inner ends to the periphery of a cylindrical hub 70. Table top 66 is provided with a central aperture in which is fixed hub 70. As with seat assembly 10, table 12 is mounted for slidable movement along column 2 as well as rotation by reception of column 2 through table hub 70. To engage and support table 12 in the desired position, a third support collar 72 is slidably mounted on column 2 below the table. Table support collar 72 is similar to collars 56 and 58 described above and includes a set screw 74 for locking purposes. Similarly, hub of the table is provided with a set screw (not shown) for locking the table in the desired position on its associated support collar 72.

In the illustrated embodiment, table 12 is equipped with a grill 76 having a generally box-like body suspended from the bottom of table top 66 and a grate 78 positioned generally in the plane of the table top 66; the latter being cut out to accommodate grate 7 8 as shown in FIG. 4. If desired, grill 76 may be omitted from the table.

Lazy susan 14 is located above table 12 at any desired position and is essentially of the same construction as table 12 with the exception of size. Thus lazy susan 14 is supported on a collar 80 having a locking set screw '82 and lazy Susan 14 may itself be locked against rotation by a set screw (not shown).

Canopy 20 has a generally pyramidal shape and includes a frame composed of a rectangular base formed by metallic tubular members 86 and right angle channel members 88 which incline upwardly from the corners of the base to a central hub 89. Further included in the base of the canopy frame are diagonal members formed by right angle channel members 90 which are fixed at the corners of the base frame and extend inwardly to a second hub 92 co-axially aligned below upper canopy hub 89. Preferably, intermediate braces 94 may be fixed between the mid point of each of the base sides 86 and lower hub 92 as shown in FIG. 4.

To secure canopy frame members 86, 88 and 90 with respect to hubs 89 and 92, right angle brackets 100 and 102 and bolts similar to those in the seat assembly are employed. Referring to FIG. 5, frame members 86 and 90 of the canopy are secured relative to each other at the corners of the base by a pair of angle brackets 104, 106, each of which is composed of two obliquely extending legs bolted to the sides 80 and the diagonals 90 of the canopy base. Referring to FIG. 6, inclined members 88 of the canopy frame are secured at their lower ends to diagonals 90 by right angle brackets 108, each of which has one leg 110 bolted to an inclined frame member 88 and another leg 112 bolted .to a diagonal 90.

A covering 114 of any appropriate wear-resistant sheet material is suitably attached to the canopy frame to complete the canopy assembly. Moreover, if desired, an ornamental top 116 may be fixed above the canopy to column 2 as shown in FIG. 1.

Canopy hubs 89 and 92 are mounted on column 2 whereby canopy 20 may be rotated as well as slid along column 2 for adjustment purposes. To lock canopy 20 against movement, set screws (not shown) are provided in canopy hubs 89 and 92 as in seat assembly hubs 24 and 40 described above. Moreover, canopy 20 is supported on cylindrical collars 101 and 103 similar to collars 56 and 58 which support the seat assembly. Collars 101 and 103 are provided with locking screws 105 and 107 for securing the canopy in fixed position.

Swings 16 each include a typical seat 120 suspended by chains 122 from hooks 124 which are anchored to the diagonals 90 of the canopy frame adjacent the corners of the canopy base as shown in FIG. 1. In this regard, canopy 20 is dimensioned to extend sufiiciently beyond the periphery of the seat assembly so as to provide space for swings 16 adjacent each of the corners of the canopy thereby providing a highly compact but useful arrangement. Space and materials are further efficiently utilized by tying clotheslines 18 at their ends to hooks 124 which receive chains 122 of swings 16.

In the preferred embodiment, a lamp 126 (see FIG. 1) is installed at the top of the column below canopy 20. Lamp 126 may be connected to a drop cord (not shown) carried through column 2 to a receptacle 128 at the base of column 2. A power line to receptacle 128 may be laid below the ground 4 if desired.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides a unique multi-purpose structure which may be manufactured for retail at relatively low prices and yet is highly versatile while being suitable for use in limited space.

Moreover, other modifications readily apparent from the foregoing description and associated drawings, although not specifically mentioned herein, will nevertheless be included within the spirit and scope of the invention indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination comprising; a support column, a seat assembly including a central mounting hub mounted on the column for rotational and axial slidable movement, a number of seats connected to said mounting hub, first support means mounted on the column below said hub for slidable movement along the column for adjustment purposes, said first support means dimensioned to be engaged by said hub to support the seat assembly in selected position on the column, means for fixing said support means in selected position on the column against movement relative to the column, a table above the seat assembly having a central mounting aperture receiving the column and permitting rotational and rectilinear slidable movement of said table relative to the column, a second support means mounted on the column below the table for slidable movement along the column for adjustment purposes, said second support means dimensioned to be engaged by said table to support said table in selected position along said column, means for fixing said second support means in selected position on the column against movement relative to the column, a canopy at the top of said column, the canopy including a central mounting hub mounted for slidable and rotational movement relative to the column, and third support means mounted below said canopy hub to engage and support the same in selected position on the column, said third support means being mounted for slidable movement along the column for adjusting the elevation of said canopy, means for fixing said third support means in selected position on the column against movement relative to the column, said canopy having a generally pyramidal shape and including a rectangular base defined by two pairs of opposite parallel sides and diagonals extending between corners of the base, said base projecting outwardly from the column a greater distance than said seat assembly such as to overly space beyond the periphery of said seat assembly, and four swings suspended from said diagonals adjacent said corners of the base occupy said space beyond the periphery of said seat assembly.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 further including clotheslines having their opposite ends tied at the points of suspension of said swings from said diagonals such that the clotheslines extend in generally parallel relationship to the sides of said canopy base.

3. A recreational and picnicking structure including in combination; a vertical support column, a seat assembly including a central hub and a number of seats connected to the hub at locations spaced radially outwardly from said hub, said hub being mounted about the support column for rotational and axial slidable movement relative to the support column, means supporting said hub on the column in selected position, a table including a central mounting aperture freely receiving said column above said seat assembly and permitting axial slidable and rotational movement of said table relative to the column, means for supporting said table on said column in selected positions, a shelf having a central mounting aperture receiving the column above said table and permitting axial slidable and rotational movement of the shelf relative to the column; means supporting the shelf in selected position on said column, and a canopy at the top of said column sheltering said seat assembly, table and shelf, said canopy including a central mounting hub mounted on the column for axial slidable and rotational movement relative to the column, and means supporting said canopy hub in selected position on the column, and a plurality of swings attached to peripheral portions of the canopy and depending downwardly from the canopy in positions located outwardly of said seat assembly.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 wherein said seat assembly further includes a plurality of elongated support members fixed at their inner ends to said first seat assembly hub and at their outer ends to said seats, a second seat assembly hub axially aligned below said first seat assembly hub, and a plurality of support braces fixed to and interconnecting said second seat assembly hub and said elongated support members at points adjacent the location of 10 said seats.

5. The structure defined in claim 4 further including a plurality of coplanar braces fixed to and between said support members in said seat assembly.

6. The structure defined in claim 5 wherein said seats have planar bottom portions and wherein there is further included right angle brackets interconnecting said support members, said braces and said seat, said right angle brackets each having one leg connected to portions of an associated support member and brace and another leg secured to the bottom of an associated seat.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 262,908 8/ 1882 Philbrick 108-95 599,243 2/1898 Klingler 10895 1,143,454 6/1915 Smith 272-33 2,688,483 9/1954 Mugler 272-33 2,831,686 4/1958 Ivor 272-33 2,912,972 11/1959 Leyen 12625 3,171,651 3/1965 Merdich et a1 27233 519,178 5/1894 Douglas et a1. 272-41 X 1,159,217 11/1915 Harreld 272-41 X RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

P. E. SHAPIRO, Assistant Examiner. 

